Inking mechanism for printing presses



Se t. 27' 1927.

p H F BECHMAN INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 12, 1924 m'alli Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. BECHMAN, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING DRESSES.

Application filed April 12, 1924. Serial N0. 706,019.

This invention is a novel inking 'mechanism for printing presses, and while it is particularly designed for use on high speed rotary newspaper presses, it is also adapted to be used on any other presses in which a rotary distributing inking drum is used in the inking system.

The object of the present invention is to enable ink to be supplied direct from the fountain roll to the ink drum without having to move either the ink fountain or the ink roll, to or from the ink drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel ink fountain roll whereby the ink may be supplied direct from the fountain to the ink drum without any lateral movement of either fountain, roll, or ink drum. Another object is to provide a fountain roll which is preferably provided with one or more spaced segments by which ink will be supplied to the ink drum in the desired quantity, while the ink roll may be continually rotated. Another object is to provide a fountain roll adapted to supply ink to the drum, and permit the drum to be rotated to the right or to the left according to the lead of the web. Another object is to dispense with any ductors or any means for moving the fountain to or from the roller drum or with any means for reciprocating the fountain roll to or from the drum. Another object is to provide a simple and efficient ink supplying mechanism whereby ink may be supplied direct from the fountain to the drum. Other minor objects and advantages of the invention will be herein after set forth.

I will explain the invention with refer ence to the accompanying drawings, in which is conventionally illustrated inking mechanism embodying the invention, and an understanding thereof will enable others to adopt and use the invention. In the claims I have summarized the essentials of the invention and the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for i which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation 01 a rotary printing web press unit with inkpression cylinders I, I coacting with the impression cylinders to print aweb W which may be directed between the cylinders in various ways. Coacting with each plate cylinder is an inking mechanism which may be of any suitable kind; and as shown includes a drum 1) to which ink is supplied from the fountain, as hereinafter explained; and distributing form rollers F by which ink may be supplied from the drum D to the plates on the plate cylinder. The particular construction of the inking mechanism so far as regards the drum and the number of rollers employed for carrying ink from the drum and applying same to the plates on the cylinders, may be varied to suit the press designer or' constructor and forms no essential part of the present invention except that in the present invention-because of the unusually uniform and well distributed supply of ink by the fountain roll to the drum, the number of distributing rollers required may be greatly reduced. The present invention resides more particularly in the novel construction of the fountain roll by which the ink is supplied direct from the fountain to the drum D.

The fountain 1, with the exception of the fountain roll, may be of ordinary construetion; but instead of the usual roll employed in such fountain, I provide a novel segmental.

and thus leave gaps 2 between the opposed ends of the adjacent segments 2.

. The outer faces of the segments .2 are curved to correspond to the normal diameter.

of the roll, but the adjacent ends of the segments are separated by the gaps 2. The segments are adapted to be contacted by a scraper blade 2 of the usual construct1on, andwhich may be such as is commonly used inthe ordinary ink fountains, and as the fountain roll 2 is rotated the segments 2 move alternately past the scraper which latter is set to remove surplus ink from the faces of the segments, and at the end of each in such proximity thereto that at each rota;

' tion of the drum D ink will be supplied thereto from and by the segments 2 without the use of any ductor, and without the necessity for raising or lowering the fountain, or the fountain roll; or the drum. In this construction the fountain, the drum, and the fountain roll are all adjusted and relatively fixed, so that they do not have or require any movement (other than that of rotation of the drum and rotation of the fountain roll) during the operation of the machine. a v y The roll 2 must always rotate in the direction of the arrow in order that the scraper blade can properly operate to re move the ink therefrom. Ordinarily, the roll 2 is driven at much less peripheral speed than that of the drum. The roll 2 may be drivenfbyany suitable means. As shown in Fig. l the roll 2 is driven by means of a large gear 2 on the roll shaft 2 meshing with a pinion 3 on the shaft ofthe drum D, and the gears 2 and 3 being so proportioned as to give, any desired reduction of peripheral speed between the drum and the ink r011. This arrangement is used when the web. W is led through the press in the direction indicated in Figure 1. Sometimes it is desired to reversethe direction of the lead of the web, and in such case it is necessary .to reverse the direction of rotation of the plate and impression cylinders and of the drum D; this reversal can be accomplished by simply reversing the drive. In

. such case, the ink fountain roll 2 should still be rotated in thesame direction. (anti-clockwise) so that it will be properl scraped by the blade 2 and therefore t e gear 3 can be removed and substituted by a smaller ear 3, Fig. 4, and an intermediate gear 3 is placed on a stud 3 and meshes with gears 3 and 2 (see Fig. 4) and thus insures the desired anti-clockwise rotation of the fountain roll. The gears 53*, 3, 2 are preferably removable and interchangeable so that the press can be readily adapted to run with either lead of the web.

The reason for changing the gearing for driving the ink roll is that the ink roll must rotateanti-clockwise inorder that the V presses, where a fine distribution of ink is.

desired. Thus the inking mechanism indicated in Figure 1 takes the place of inking mechanisms in which were employed two drums, a ductor, and from four to six distributing rollers in order to produce the desired fine distribution of the ink between Y the fountain and the plate cylinder which distribution is obtained by the simple inking mechanism shown.

In the present invention, the drum receives ink direct from the fountain roll but takes it from the fountain roll segments in such manner that instead of the ink'being thickly dabbed upon the inking drum at a number of differentspots it is war uniformly supplied'to the drum and uni ormly distributed at and during the time of its application over a large area of the drum surface; and is so uniformly distributed over such surface that one or two distributors with the form rolls will suffice to give the desired fine distribution of the ink before being applied to the printing surface.

In assembling the apparatus the ink fountain or ink roll should be adjustedso that the inking segments 2 will supply the ink direct to the drum, the amount of ink supplied being regulated by the blade 2, and the adjustment ofthe fountain roll relative to the ink drum, insures that the latter will receive the desired amount of ink from the roll.

While I.preferably employ a roll having two segments, it is obvious that in some cases one segment might be employed, and that in other cases the roll might have more segments; therefore I do not consider the invention limited to any particular number of roll segments; but I prefer to use two for the sake of balance and smoothness in operation, and also because with two segments the roll can be run at less speed than if only one segment is employed. The peripheral its length of the segments can be determined by the amount of ink which it is desired to deliver to the inking drum for each supplying operation, and the relative peripheral speed of the drum and segments can be determined by the amount of ink to be supplied to the drum and the extent of distribution of the ink on the drum surface during thesupply of ink thereto by the segment. 1

I claim: v

1. In inking mechanism for the purpose specifieokan ink drum mounted in fixed bearings, an ink fountain; an inkfountainroll segment adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum and means for driving the drum at greater peripheral speed than the fountain roll segment.

2. In inking mechanism for the purpose specified, an ink drum mounted in fixed bearings, an ink fountain; an ink fountain roll having a plurality of segments adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum, and means for drivin the drum at greater peripheral speed than t e fountain roll segments.

3. In inking mechanism for the purpose specified, an ink drum mounted in fixed bearings, an ink fountain; an ink fountain roll segment adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum; means for removing surplus ink from the segment;

means for rotating the segment, and means for driving the drum at greater peripheral speed than the fountain roll segment.

4. In inking mechanism for the pur ose specified, an ink drum mounted in xed bearings, an ink fountain; an ink fountain roll having a lurality of segments adapted to transfer in; directly from the fountain to the drum; means for removing surplus ink from the roll segments; means for rotat- 6. In mechanism for the purpose specified an ink drum mounted in fixed bearings; an ink fountain; an ink fountain roll comprising a plurality of segments adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum; a shaft carrying said segments; means for removing surplus ink from the roll segments; and means for rotating the fountain roll at greater peripheral speed than the segments.

7. In mechanism for the purpose specified an ink drum; an ink. fountain; an ink fountain roll comprising a plurality of segments adapted to. transfer ink direct] from the fountain to the drum; webs rigid y connecting the segments; a shaft carrying said webs" and segments; a scraer for removing surplus ink from the r0 1 segment; and gearing between the fountain roll and the drum.--

8. Anink fountain-roll comprising spaced segments between which ink can pass through the roll, and means connecting said segments,

9. An ink fountain roll comprising spaced I segments. between which sink can pass through the roll, and a shaft carrying said segments.

10. An ink fountain roll comprising a shaft; and a plurality of segments mounted thereonv and spaced apart to permit ink to pass therebetween.

11, An ink fountain roll comprising a plu- 'rality of longitudinal segments spaced apart to permit ink to pass between them through the roll; and spaced means rigidly connecting the segments.

12. An ink fonntain roll, comprising a plurality of longitudinal segments spaced apart to permit ink to pass between them t rough the roll; spaced means rigidly connecting the segments, and ashaft carrying said segments.

13. In inking. mechanism for the purpose specified an inkdrum, an ink fountain an ink fountain roll having a plurality of segments adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum, said segments being spaced apart to permit ink to ass between t em through the roll; means or removing surplus ink from the roll segments; and

means for rotating the fountain roll.

14. In mechanism for the purpose specified an ink drum; an ink fountain; ink fountainroll segments adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain tothe drum,

saidsegments beings aced apart to permit ink to pass between t em through the roll; a shaft carrying said segment; a scraper for removing surplus ink from the segments; and gearing between the segment shaft and the drum.

15. In mechanism for the purpose specified an ink drum; an inkv fountain; an ink fountain roll comprising a plurality of segments adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum, said segments being spaced'apart to permit-inkto tpass beha t tween them through the roll; a s carrying said segments; means for removing surplus ink rom the segments. and means for rotating the fountain roll.

16. In mechanism for the purpose speci-' fied an ink drum; an ink fountain; an ink fountain roll comprising a plurality of segments adapted to transfer ink directly from the fountain to the drum, said segments being spaced apart to permit ink to pass between them through the roll; webs rigidly connecting the segments; a shaft carrying said webs and segments; a scraper for removing surplus 1nk from the segments; and gearing between the fountain roll and the drum.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I afiix my signature.

HENRY F. BEOHMAN. 

